Sometimes, we get just plain silly in the Takle house. We do things like this:
And this.
And, then there are days where we just blow it out and do this. If you listen closely you’ll hear an elderly couple, apparently amused by the muddy display, stop and take notice.
Summer is right ‘round the corner. It’s a great time to enjoy your family and friends and get messy.
“As long as I can focus on enjoying what I’m doing, having fun, I know I’ll play well.” – Steffi Graf
Filed under parenting, Relationships
Random thoughts going through my mind right now:
· I don’t know how I enjoyed showering before Dove Exfoliating Soap.
· Why can’t I get everything I need in just one trip a week to Super Target?
· Why can’t my children just ask me a question without first hailing, “Mom” and then waiting for my “Yes?”
· God is teaching me to trust Him in the day to day stuff….and I’m just stepping on the stones as He lays each one in front of me.
· I’m excited that Narnia: Prince Caspian premieres this weekend.
· If bottled water cost more per gallon than gasoline, why am I still drinking it?
· Anna is suddenly into wearing nightgowns (not PJs), and her wardrobe only consists of two. I try to make sure that at least is one is clean every night to avoid an obvious emotional breakdown. Kris insists that it is less than prudent to purchase more gowns since she has perfectly good PJs. He doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a girl trying to move forward in the world of fashion. Maybe if I drop some green for a few new gowns he’ll never know. After all, gowns are all the rage this fashion season. And I more than anyone know the importance of a great handbag, a pair of fierce shoes, and a posh new Princess gown. It’s times like this that Anna and I are one in spirit.
What’s going through your mind right now?
Filed under Randomness
We all know that communication is key in relationships. However, how we communicate is just as important as the communication itself. Kris and I don’t get it right all the time, but I’d say that we usually do okay.
I’ve learned a few things that work and a few that don’t. Such as….
· Addressing an issue in the form of an attack. For example: I try to avoid comments that begin with “You never” or “You always”. This, more times than not, forces Kris to be defensive. He shouldn’t have to “defend” himself unless I catch him eating the last of my cereal before I’ve had my bowl.
· Addressing something that bothers you while that something is happening. I will usually wait until we are alone and time has lapsed before I address an issue. I do this for 2 reasons: 1) I may feel differently about it later, thus saving Kris from any unnecessary tough conversation and 2) if I still feel a need to address the issue, he is less likely to take offense and receive what I have to say, because he is far removed from the situation. This rule is null and void if said offender leaves the toilet seat up or changes the toilet paper roll by simply placing the new one on top of the old one. This calls for immediate dialogue.
· And, finally, communication sometimes simply involves telling Kris something I love about him, thanking him for something he does, or praising him for his accomplishments. It is important that he knows that I appreciate him and that I believe in him. For example, he is an excellent pilot, and I tell him all the time. Actually, I tell him that when I see his hand pushing that throttle forward, I kind of melt inside. For real.
What have you found that works or doesn’t work?
Filed under Relationships
Here’s one for ya.
If you had five minutes of the world’s attention, what would you say?
My mind has been all over the board on this one. For real. Themes like “forgiveness” and “peace” seem likely. Or, perhaps, addressing the rising gas prices is another good one. But, I’m drawn to this one.
I think maybe I’d share Ephesians 3:18-19 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Because, the love of Christ is the greatest story ever told.
Of course, to truly understand the love of Christ, you have to know the whole story. Perhaps, I’d hit the highlights like the fact that God knowing that we would need to be saved from our sin willingly agreed to become a man and give his life as a ransom. Why did he do it? Because, he loves us.
It’s a tough question really. What would you say? You’ve got five minutes.
Filed under God Stuff, Randomness, Spiritual Journey
The Takle family had quite the event-filled weekend.
First, this guy graduated from pre-school.
Yep. A real, live graduation filled with entertainment from the graduates themselves….and, a little sister who insisted on being included.
We then prepared for a big wedding weekend. Falon, who used to care for my children, tied the knot with her Tulsa police officer. The ring-bearer and flower girl aren’t much for rehearsals.
But, they did love the dance floor.
They didn’t want to see their Falon go, so they did what they knew to do.
Eventually, even they could not overcome the weight of their sleepy heads.
But, this one did manage to fall asleep with his arm still clutched to his ring bearer pillow.
It was a good weekend.
Filed under Kid Stuff, Randomness
This is one of my favorite pictures of my mother taken over twenty years ago. I just the love the way it captures her beautiful profile. She has always been this beautiful. And her beauty goes deeper than anyone I have ever known.
I really can’t imagine life without my mother. I share Abe Lincoln’s sentiments when he said “Everything I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” While I am certain she made mistakes as a mother, I can honestly say, I cannot recall one. Perhaps, that’s because she invested much more good than she withdrew bad. I have been blessed beyond measure because of her.
My love for the written word is largely due to her exposing me to books at a very young age. I can still remember as a little girl heading to the Flint River Library to join other children in book readings. I can also recall the excitement I felt each week as I brought home my borrowed books. She introduced me to books, and I was able to enter into a world where I knew anything was possible. It was this love that ignited my love to write.
She endured through my stubborn resolve to not wear socks where the lace overlapped. (And, as noted yesterday with my little Anna, I know exactly what she must have felt.) When I wrote my first song about a falling star, she assured me it was top 40 material, regardless of the fact that it included a line about killing a bumble bee. She let me write and mail a letter to Brett Butler of the Atlanta Braves and convinced me that he read it. She loved me still after I screamed “I hate you.” She made my sixteenth birthday truly sweet. If she told me once, she told me a thousand times how proud she was of me when I graduated from college. She squeezed me tight the day before I married. She held me close the day I got divorced. And she rubbed my head the day I gave birth to my son. And, then, she held him, too.
Then, one day she watched us hop aboard an airplane with the last of our belongings and venture off into new adventures. While she hurt inside, she smiled and still said, “I am so happy for you.”
She is a wonderful Nan.
She is my rock and my best friend.
She is my dear mother.
I hope one day my children love me as much as I love her.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Filed under Motherhood, parenting, Relationships
Voted “Class Clown” for the 2007-2008 Pre-school Year
One of Anna’s teachers, Ms. Brittney, remarked, “She is truly the funniest girl in the class. I’ve never seen such a quick, comedic three –year old.”
“I am quite funny, myself,” I assured Ms. Brittney, eliminating any doubt of the source of her wit.
A mother couldn’t be any prouder. For real.
(A Necessary Note: I did discourage the hat for picture day, but some battles are better left for enforcing the removal of purple Mardi Gras beads, such as it was in this case.)
Filed under Motherhood, parenting, Randomness
Aretha sang it best, but I don’t think she was singing about the respect I’m gonna talk about. I will not be referencing the “when you get home” respect…..at least not this time.
Respect. I think we as a society have lost it for one another. For real. The greatest thing I learned from writing last week’s blog series was this: people need to know they matter. Whether we express it in the written word, take time out of our busy life to invest in another’s, or let the guy trying to get over in our lane get over, our society is groaning for a re-establishment of respect for humankind.
In this year alone, I have heard of numerous people who have taken their own life. I lost a classmate in February who left behind a wife and toddler son. One of my former students who excelled in everything he did just ended his life at 21. Last year, I met a beautiful girl who was in her late twenties with a successful career. I recently learned that she, too, committed suicide. I am bothered, and I can’t help it.
Call suicide selfish. Call it whatever you will. Bottom line is that we are surrounded by hurting people, lonely people, desperate people. Our lack of respect and our immersion into ourselves blind us to what God has truly called us to.
I’m not placing blame. No one can or should bear the burden of desperate people. But, we do need to take responsibility for the little things – like the simple act of respect.
I have good friends. And, I don’t need to “fit” them into my life when convenient for me. They deserve my undivided attention and moments set aside just for them. Why? Because they matter.
For the sake of humanity, let’s reclaim that 7 letter word. (And, I know most of you are counting right now.) And, for the sake of our relationships, let’s make sure they know they matter. For real.
By the way, I don’t think Jason Castro is gonna make it through after last night’s performances. Even with my sympathy text votes, I’m afraid he’ll get the boot. I just needed him to know that he matters. After all, he IS my brother. Ya’ll be prayin’ for ’em now.
Filed under Relationships, Spiritual Journey
My children like to quote a line from the recent film “Alvin and the Chipmunks”. It’s when Alvin chants, “Dave likes to wear dirty underwear.”
At first I scolded them for repeating such vulgarity (at least it sounds vulgar coming from a 3 year old’s mouth). But, then I joined in. Its repetition became somewhat contagious. I just couldn’t help myself.
I changed it up a bit and sang, “Nan likes to wear dirty underwear.” John Henry quickly yelled back, “No! I love her! Don’t sing that about Nan!” (Nan is my mother and would also be the next American Idol if John Henry had anything to do about it…..along with the next President . He’d also make sure she was voted “Who’s Who Among American Nans.”
So, I sang instead, “Ga-Ga likes to wear dirty underwear.” John Henry replied, “That’s okay.”
At least we know where his loyalties lie…..as if we already didn’t.
Filed under Motherhood, parenting, Randomness
Here’s a story about a princess, a bear, and a time-out. It makes perfect sense.
Now, if that doesn’t make you have sweet dreams, I’m not sure what will.
Filed under Motherhood, Randomness
wife, mother, pastor, writer
DustyTakle.com 